Gordon Wang Photography

1926 31 st Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98199 January 11, 2016

U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE Washington DC 20590

Re: Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and P art 11 of

the Federal Aviation Regulations from: 14 CFR 21 subpart H; 14 CFR 45.23(b); 14 CFR 61.113(a); 14 CFR 91.7(a); 14 CFR 91.9(b)(2); 14 CFR 91.103;14 CFR 91.109; 14 CFR 91.119(c); 14 CFR 91.121; 14 CFR 91.151(a); 14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b); 14 CFR 91 .405 (a); 14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 91.409 (a)(1) and (2); 14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b)

To whom it may concern:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and 14 CFR Part 11, Gordon H. Wang , operator of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations to allow commercial operation of a small UAS, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as established by the FAA as required by Section 333.

Commercial operation small UAS, as described herein, which are equipped with cameras and sensors, would operate in the following manner:

1. Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real estate,

Architecture , land surveying, engineering and other related professional activities.

2. Aerial video and/or photograph y for public and/or private use for television, public and /or private use including television, public events, and cinematogr aphy.

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures under contract with

the owners or local government authority.

4. Aerial video/photography or providing live video feed to assist with search and rescue operations in cases of an emergency or natural disaster only when the local authorities

or government has requested it by contract or donation.

2.5. Aerial video/photography for agriculture activities.

As described fully below, the requested exempt ion would permit the operation of small

UAS under controlled conditions in the NAS that would be a) limited b) controlled c) predetermined and d) will provide safety enhancements to the already safe operations in the industry presently using conventiona l aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “....establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspa ce system.”

The name, phone, email and address of the applicant: Name: Gordon H. Wang

Phone: 206 650

- 5111 Email: gordon@gordonwang.com

Address: 1926 31 st Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98199

USA Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 14 CFR Part 21 subp art H 14 CFR 45.23 (b) 14 CFR 61.113(a) 14 CFR 91.7 (a) 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2) 14 CFR 91.103 14 CFR 91.109 14 CFR 91.119(c) 14 CFR 91.121 14 CFR 91.151 (a) 14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b) 14 CFR 91.405 (a) 14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 91.409 (a) (2) 14 CFR 91.417 (a) & (b)

The small UAS’s I will be using are multi

- rotor craft weighing no more than 55lbs. including payload. Under normal conditions they operate at speeds of no more than 100 Mph or 87 Knots and have the ability to hover and move along a vertical and hor izontal plane simultaneously. They will operate in line of sight only and by the exempted person only obeying all other local and federal laws. Given the small size of the small UAS and the controlled environment provided the proposed operations will adher e to the Reform Act’s safety requirements. The approval of this application presents no national security issues. Regarding the level of safety surrounding the proposed operations and the public benefit, reduction in environmental impacts, including but no t limited to reduced emissions and noise, the grant of the requested exemption is in the public interest. Accordingly the applicant requests that the FAA grant the requested exemption with minimum delay.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The operat ion limitations proposed for an equivalent or higher level of safety because operations will further enhance the safety of the persons and/or property using

conventional aircraft. These limitations and conditions to which the applicant agrees to

3.adhere to when conducting commercial operations under the FAA issued exemption as set forth in the Flight Operations Manual (FOM) include: 1. The small UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs. 2. Flights will be operated w ithin line of sight of a pilot and/or observer. 3. Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes. Flights will be

t erminated at 25% battery power reserve 4. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet Abo ve Ground Level (AGL) and not more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned. 5. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the small UAS Pilot in Command (PIC), the Visual Observer (VO) when needed and may include but n ot limited to a Camera Operator.

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. A briefing will be performed regarding the planned small UAS operations prior to each day’s flight consisting of all the days’ production activities. 8. The PIC will obtain verbal/written consent of all persons involved with the planned operation and ensure that only consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of

the flight operation, and the radius may be reduced to 30 feet based upon an equivalent

level of safety determination, as required under the FOM. Wit h the advanced permission

or direction of the FSDO, operations at closer range may be approved. 9. The PIC and VO will have been trained in operation of small UAS and receive up

- to

date information for the particular small UAS to be operated and will be ab le to show

upon request their competent ability to operate the small UAS and/or Camera. 10. The PIC and VO will be able to communicate by verbally at all times. 11. Written and/or verbal permission and permits will be obtained from territorial, state,

coun ty or city jurisdictions, including law enforcement, fire or other appropriate governmental agencies when needed. 12. If the small UAS loses communications or loses GPS signal, the small UAS will have

the capability to return to a pre

- determined location w ithin a designated location and land autonomously. 13. The small UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles, weather, or emergencies. 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)

S ubpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements

for the issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both

authorize t he FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular small UAS. In all cases, an

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analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the small UAS operated without anairworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed

will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed win g or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed. The small UAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive materials o r flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively within a secured and designated area. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by both the operator and under the requirements and in compliance with local public safety requirements. These safety enhancements provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than conventional operations conducted with airworthiness certificates

Issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H. Lastly, application of these same criteria

demonstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by the small UAS, due to its size, speed of Robert Adams Section 333 Exemption Petition Page 4 operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a substantial

external load.

14 C.F.R. § 45.23 (b) Marking of the Aircraft

The regulation requires: When marks include only the Roman capital letter "N" and the registration number is displayed on limited, restricted or light

- sport category aircraft or experimental or provisionally certificated aircraft, the operator must also display on that

aircraft near each entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station, in letters not less than 2

inches no r more than 6 inches high, the words "limited," "restricted," "light

- sport," "experimental," or "provisional," as applicable.

Even though the small UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be

needed as the small UAS will have no entran ce to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word “Experimental” can be placed. Given the size of the small UAS, two

- inch lettering will be impossible. The word “Experimental” will be placed on the fuselage in compliance with §45.29 (f). The equi valent level of safety will be provided by having the small UAS marked on its fuselage as required by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others working with the

small UAS will see the identification of the small UAS as “Experimental.”

14 C.F.R. § 6 1.113(a): Private Pilot Privileges an d Limitations: Pilot in Command

Pursuant to 14 CFR 61.113 (a), no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation

or hi re. Our small UAS do not carry any pilots or passengers nor property therefore I am

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seeking an exemption to 14 CFR 61.113(a). Although helpful, a pilot’s license will not ensure remote control piloting skills. The risks attendant to the operation of small UAS isfar less than the risk levels inherent in the commercial activities outlined in 14 CFR 61. I feel the operation and limitations set forth in the FOM will equate to the safe operation of

the small UAS.

14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Ci vil Aircraft Airworthiness.

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy

condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining

airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft for maintenance and use of safety checklists prior to each flight an equivalent level of safety will be provided.

14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft.

Section 91.9 (b) (2) provides: No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft ... (2)

For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless there

is available in the aircraft a current ap proved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination thereof. The small UAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on the aircraft, not only becau se there is no pilot on board, but because there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the small UAS w ill have immediate access to it.

14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight Action.

This regulation requires each pilot in command to take certain actions before flight to insure the safety of flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be provided fo r the aircraft an exemption will be needed. The OPERATOR will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landing and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight.

14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight In struction.

Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning

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dual controls. Small UAS and remote ly piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box

that communicates with the aircraft via radio communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight traini ng without fully functional dual controls for a number ofaircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. The equivalent level of safety provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the size and speed of the aircraft.

14 C.F.R. §91.119: Minimum Safe Altitudes.

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d)

allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the

per son operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is for a small UAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, or not more than 200 above an elevated platform from which filming is planned, an exemption may be needed to allow such operations. As set forth herein, the small UAS will never operate at higher than 400 AGL with the exception that in

circumstances where the small UAS is used to survey or photograph a structure whose height exceeds 400 feet AGL, the small UAS will not be operated more than 100' above the highest point on the structure. It will however be operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, where building s and people will not be exposed to operations without their pre

- obtained consent. The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the small UAS as well as the location where it is operated. No flight will

be taken without the permission of the property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and participants in the filming activity, all affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight operations. Compared to flight operations wi th aircraft or rotorcraft weighting far more than the

maximum 55lbs. proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 A GL. In addition, the low

- altitude operations of the small UAS will ensure separation between these small

- UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119.

14 C.F.R . §91.121 Altimeter Settings

This regulati on requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by

reference to an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available before departure.” As the small UAS may not hav e a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the operator, pursuant to the safety check list and live flight data monitoring, confirming the altitude of the lau nch site shown

7. on the GPS altitude indicator before flight.

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane underVFR conditi ons unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed

– (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly a fter that for at least 45 minutes.” The battery powering

the small UAS provides approximately 30 minutes of powered flight. To meet the 30 minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, small UAS flights would be limited to approximately 10 minutes in lengt h.

Given the limitations on the small UAS’s proposed flight area and the location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or twilight VFR conditions is reasonable. Applicant believes that an exempt ion from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope of prior exemptions. Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only people and property

owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will be allowed, with less

than 30 minute s of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the small UAS. Additionally, limiting small UAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for which the exempti on will be granted. Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 30 minutes or 25% of battery power

— whichever happens

first. This restriction would be more than adequate to return the small UAS to its planne d landing zone from anywhere in its limited operating area. 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration The regulation provides in pertinent part: (a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil a ircraft unless it has within it the following: (1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. . . . (b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight aut horization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew. Robert Adams Section 333 Exemption Petition Page 7 The small UAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs. and is operated without an onboard pilot. As such, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the small UAS. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the ground control point where the pilo t flying the small UAS will have immediate access to them; to the extent they are applicable to the small UAS.

14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections.

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner “shall have that aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and oth ers shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate; these sections will not apply to the applicant. Any maintenance will be pursuant to the m anufacture’s flight manual and operating handbook will accomplish the maintenance . An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these small UASs are very limited in size and will carry asmall payload and operate only in restricted areas for lim ited periods of time. If mechanical issues arise the small UAS can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. The operator will ensure that the small UAS is in working order prior to initiating flight, perform required mainten ance, and keep a log of any maintenance performed. Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the

aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety. An equivalent level of saf ety will be achieved because maintenance and inspections will be performed in accordance with the small UAS Manufacturer's Manual, as referenced in the Aircraft Operations Manual (AOM). As provided in the FOM, the operator will ensure that the small UAS is in working order prior to initiating flight and perform required maintenance needed.

Small UAS Information

Small UAS’s to be used are as follows but not limited to providing they are within the

FAA scope of the exemption:

Yuneec Q5004k

a. Weight (Batt ery & Propellers Included)

– 60 oz. / 3.75 lbs.

b. Max flying altitude 400 ft.

c. 3 flight modes Smart, Angle and Home d. Max Descent Speed

– 2 m /s e. Max Flight Speed

– 55 ft. /s f. Battery Lithium polymer , 5400 mAh, 11.1 Vdc

g. Radio Control Frequency Contro ller 2.4 GHz

https://www.yuneec.com/Typhoon

- Specifications

- Typhoon

- 4K

Sincerely,

Gordon Wang, Owner Gordon Wang Photography

1926 31 st Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98199

Additional Commen t / Opinion

Operator Requirements : Operator should not be required to hold a private pilot license. Gordon Wang believes that 1) the operator, instead of understanding how to operate a passenger carrying aircraft, should have knowledge and experience tha t enables the safe operation of a small, remotely piloted sUAV should understand airspace restrictions and know how to ensure separation from other aircraft as well as non

- participants and property; 2) the sUAV hasbuilt

- in technical capabilities that limi t the potential for unsafe operation and 3) there are other security screening mechanisms already in existence that Gordon Wang will utilize to ensure the operators are acting consistently with national security interests. Given the sUAV safety features ou tlined below, Gordon Wang proposes that its operations under this Exemption request should not be required to hold a commercial or private pilot certification, but instead show proficient skills and knowledge to operate sUAV’s skillfully and safely. 1) the FAA has found that safety factors permitted operation of sUAV’s by Operators with these qualifications in the case of operations pursuant to public COAs when the mandatory operating conditions specified above were present; and 2) that the Notice of Propose d Rulemaking entitled Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 80 F.R. 9544 (February 23, 2015) (“NPRM”), does not require the operator to hold a private pilot license or a third class medical. Advanced sUAV’s has a navigation and co ntrol system and

auto

- pilot that allows it to execute very accurate pre

- programed flights. Flights are

pre

- programmed with GPS waypoint to establish perimeters beyond which the aircraft will not operate. Flights under auto

- pilot are not directed by positiv e manual input, but through preprogrammed flight parameters that are executed by

the auto

- pilot. In the case of unplanned events, the Operator inputs preprogrammed evasive maneuvers from the control unit, and the autopilot

executes those maneuvers. Pre

- pro grammed Operator interventions include: initiation of holding at present position; suspension of mission; fly back to launch point; abort mission and land immediately; and emergency power cut off and land (flight termination system). 1) Auto

- pilot detectio n of lost GPS or of insufficient satellites initiates an immediate landing, 2) Low power on the aircraft triggers escalating alarms at GCS at 35% and 10% levels. Low power below 10% triggers an immediate landing, 3) If the auto

- pilot detects a lost

- link to the ground controller, the UAS will hold position at its current location for 5 seconds and if the signal is not restored, execute a return to home and land, 4) Redundant “kill switches” that enable completely shutting the aircraft down in flight in the e vent
of a loss of control or un

- commanded deviation from the flight path, 5) The aircraft, weighs less than 55 lbs., fully loaded, 6) The motors are driven by pulse width modulated signals, not analog signals, 7) The aircraft will operate for the Purposes at no more than 30 mph (while imaging) nor above 200 feet above the structure (imaging altitude) or a maximum of 400 feet AGL.